Jeff McNeil Returns to Citi Field and Can't Hold Back the Tears

Jeff McNeil walked into Citi Field on Friday night as a visitor for the first time in his career, and it hit different. The Athletics legend, who spent his entire baseball life in a Mets uniform before getting traded away this offseason, went 2 for 4 with a ninth-inning RBI single to help Oakland blank New York 4-0.

But the numbers don't tell the real story here. McNeil got a video tribute and a standing ovation before his first at-bat in front of 36,349 fans. The 34-year-old, who just turned that age on Wednesday, looked like he was fighting back tears as he stood at the top step of the visiting dugout and watched nearly a minute of highlights. When he stepped into the box in the second inning, he tipped his helmet twice to acknowledge the crowd. Then he grounded into a double play.

A Career in One Night

McNeil's emotional homecoming didn't end there. He doubled in the fourth inning, made a defensive play in the fifth to rob rookie Carson Benge of a hit, lined out in the sixth, and then delivered the game-winner with a single in the ninth. It was the kind of performance that proves why he won the NL batting title back in 2022.

"Spent, up to now, my entire career with that team, so it's pretty special," McNeil said after the game. "I got a little choked up up there. Just overall a super fun night."

The New Reality

McNeil was drafted by the Mets in 2013 and became a cornerstone of the franchise. But the offseason brought massive changes to New York. David Stearns overhauled the roster by trading McNeil to Oakland in December, along with moving Brandon Nimmo. The front office also let Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz walk away as free agents.

It's a completely different Mets lineup now. "I was looking through their lineup and I got (from a teammate): 'Who do you know?'" McNeil said before the game. "I go, 'Well, I haven't played with a lot of these guys.' It was definitely an interesting offseason for them."

The A's made a statement by becoming the first team to shut out both the Yankees and Mets on consecutive days. McNeil's night capped off something special, and he knows it: "Super special day. I'm glad I got through it and now we just get to go play baseball."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.